KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Malaysians today want not only development but also efficient, transparent and clean administration, which they could regard as good governance.
The prime minister said the people's expectations and their attitude towards leaders and the government had changed.
"That is why the benchmark to become a leader today is higher than before as information could not be easily accessed in those days but today, the people are more educated and better informed.
"Nowadays, whatever we try to hide, will eventually come out...people will get to know about it. So as leaders, we must be aware and change ourselves....make adjustments.
"God willing, after we've made adjustments, the people will still want Barisan Nasional (BN) to lead the nation...but they want a transformed BN in keeping with today's changed situation."
Najib said this when opening the 34th annual general meeting of the Welfare Body of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) at Bangunan Bakti Siti Hasmah, here Wednesday.
He said what happened in 2008 (general election) was structural change; that Malaysians today were no longer like before.
According to him, today's generation wanted change and the BN government could bring about change, and that was why the country did not need the kind of reformation called for by certain quarters, but transformation that was now being undertaken by the government.
"We don't need reformation that ends with the throwing of chairs. We have chosen transformation...no need to hold street demonstrations...shouting out there. But we work and deliver, and that is why under the 1Malaysia concept, we stress on performance and outcomes," he said.
Najib said the approach in the present era is not having too many formalities between the leaders and people.
"There is no wall between us and the people. We must be people-oriented...this is our theme if we want to be more successful in a democratic system."
Najib said when leaders "turun padang" (go down to the field), there was no need for much protocal as this would enable the leaders to be closer to the people and know their problems.
"What's wrong with having the taxi associaton chairman sitting beside us (leaders), or the village head, mosque imam or other local leaders?"
Najib recalled the time when he did away with protocol and sat cross-legged on the road with hundreds of football fans watching the Suzuki AFF Cup 2010 final on the big screen in Bukit Bintang, as an enjoyable moment with the "rakyat" (people).
"We are not in a comfort zone. It cannot be business as usual because the situation out there is so different now," he said.
Earlier, Najib's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who is also Bakti president, addressed the AGM.
Najib who is also the patron of Bakti, advised Bakti members, who are also the wives of leaders, to be always humble and close to the people in helping the various groups in society like the senior citizens, disabled, orphans and single mothers.
"We must have the spirit of giving back to society, to appreciate and return the trust and support given by the people to us as leaders."
He said the leaders' wives' good work for society would also help create a more positive image of the government.
Najib also praised the spirit of the Bakti members and their assisting all levels of society through their welfare and charitable activities, which could make them a role model and provide strong leadership for other associations.
He said Bakti collected RM25 million in donations through its fund-raising dinner function in 2010.
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